Dry cleaning apparatus



March 23, 1937.

R. A. HETzR DRY CLEANING APPARATUS Filed May 19, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet lMarch 23, 1937. R. A. HETZER DRY CLEANING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet` 2Filed May 19, 1934 FIG.- 5

INVENTOR RUSSELL A. HETZER 12 A ORN Patented Mar. 23, 1937 PATENT oFElcE2,074,508 DRY CLEANDTG APPARATUS Russell A.. Hetzer,

Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The American Laundry Machinery Company,

Norwood, Ohio Application May 19, 1934, Serial No. '726,460

10 Claims.

This invention relates to dry cleaning apparatus of that type in whichthe work to be cleaned is cleaned, dried and deodorized in a singleapparatus or system.

.5 One object of the invention is to improve the general construction ofthat unit of the apparatus in which the work is subjected to the varioussteps in the treatment or, in other words, to the washing machine, andmore particularly, to provide an improved type of such machine in whichthe doors of the outer stationary tub and rotating cylinder areconnected and move as a unit for opening and closing the device and inclosed position permit rotation of the door of the rotatable drum whilethe door of the tub is non-rotatable. l

A further object of the invention is to provide, in dry cleaningmechanism of this kind, a washing unit with coupled or connected doorsof the character described. the inner or drum door being foraminous orperforated together with means for introducing the air supply to thespace between the two doors so that it may be delivered to or dischargedfrom the center of the rotating drum with most eicient results.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in dry cleaningapparatus oi' this kind, means for introducing moth preventive ormoth-proofing material during operation of the apparatus in thecustomary manner.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide an improved type ofconduit connection to those portions oi the apparatus which contain thevolatile detergent for more readily repairing and replacing gaskets andthe like. f

Other objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part willappear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, which represent one suitable embodiment of theinvention, Fig. 1 is an elevation with parts of the apparatus shown moreor less diagrammatically and with portions of the apparatus broken outor in sectional elevation to expose interior parts; Fig. 2 is a detailend view of the washing unit from the left in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a detailsection on the line 9 3, Fig. l; Fig. 4 is a detail sectional elevation,corresponding to Fig. l, but on a larger scale, illustrating the doorconstruction; Fig. 5 is an end elevation from the right in Fig. 4; andFig. 6 is a detail sectional plan view on the line tft, Fig. 5.

Taken as a whole, the dry cleaning system or apparatus illustrated inthe drawings is of 55 the same general type and construction illus- (Ci.(iB-38) trated in my prior application for dry cleaning apparatus filedMarch 16, 1932, Serial No. 599,127, and now Patent Number 1,993,407, ofMarch 5, 1935, to which reference may be had for a more completedescription where desirable 5 or necessary. In actual practice, however,the present system will usually be made in smaller form and with morecompact arrangement than in my prior application referred to.

The system comprises a washing machine .or unit i draining by way of thevalve and conduit 2 to a sump 3, the chamber within the washing unitcommunicating by a conduit 4 with one end of a condenser 5 in which arescreens ii. Condenser 5 drains into the sump by way of a 15 conduit 'iand valve 8. The gas chamber in the condenser communicates by conduit',9 with a fan i0 delivering by way of a conduit H into a suitable airheater i2 which on its discharge side communicates by pipe I3 with thewashing unit i. it is an air inlet valve to conduit i3 while iii is atwo position valve at the entrance to an exhaust pipe i6, the two valvesi4 and i5 being connected by links and levers, generally marked il, socoupling them that when in the Jfull line position, Fig. 1, air isrepeatedly circulated through the circuit, while in the dotted lineposition fresh air enters at valve I4 and passes through the washer.condenser and fan and is discharged through the pipe i6. 30

The liquid detergent collected in the sump E is` conducted by way ofpipe i8 and valve i9 to a renovating unit shown at the right in Fig. l.This renovating unit is generally similar tothat shown in my priorapplication before referred to. It .comprises a boiler 20 suitablyheated in any manner as by steam pipes 2|, and the gas space whichcommunicates by way of a conduit 22 with coils 23 in a condenser 2t,said coils delivering through a water trap 25 to a storage chamber orreservior 26 from which the reclaimed volatile detergent may bedelivered by way of a pipe 21 and valve 28 to the chamber of the washingunit i.

Preferably, the system is operated with a suitable volatile detergent,preferably non-inflammable, such as trichlorethylene, carbontetrachloride, or the like, and is open or of the vented type withcommunication to the atmosphere at all times to avoid wide or dangerousfluctuations of pressure within the system. `As illustrated, the systemis vented by way of a pipe 29 open to atmosphere and communicating bybranches 30, 3i and 32 with the chamber in the Washing unit i, with thesump 3 and with fio f 45 is buiged or substantiels which air is admittedat valve I4 and conducted to the washer. thence tothe condenser and i'anand discharged to the atmosphere, for deodorizing purposes. 'I'hedetergent'withdrawn from the sump is then conducted to the boiler, isthere evaporated and conducted to the condenser 24 from which it isdelivered to the reservoir 28 for reuse.

According to the present invention, the washing or treating unit is ofspecial form'. particularly as to the arrangement of its doors and thevapor or gas circulating conduit connection thereto. As illustrated inFigs. 1, 4, 5 and 6 the washing unit comprises aV stationary outer tubor casing 38 ln which is mounted a rotatable foraminous drum or workcontainer 34, the axis of rotation of which is horizontal. Said drum 'isprovided at one end with a driving shaft 35 connected for operation toany suitable source of power (not shown). 30 At that end of the drumopposite its driving and drum, both of which are circular and ar- I3ranged concentric with the drum axis. The two as a Yunit back and forthbetween open and closed position.' As illustrated, the door 35 for thetub is provided with arms 31 pivoted on a 1 vertical axis on brackets 38carried by the tub or casing. Said door seats against the end edge 40oi' a tubular or cylindrical extension 39 trom the tub wall within whichis a chamber 40 to the upper portion of which is 'connected the conduitI3. The drum door, marked 4I, in elevation is circular, and'its innersurface v,42

that it projects work with no cracks chamber -41 within which said rodis provided with a collar 48 preferably perforated and beyond which is acompression spring 49. the l'ocl `works in an opening 50 within thespringv pilot portion oi a plug 5I into the hub 45 and removable fromits outer end.

ing lugs 58 on the tub wall, and the hub 45 to swing together or may bevprovided with one or more lubricating ports or channels 58 communicatingwith the chamber 41, for the purpose oi' supplying lubricant thereto,while the walls of chamber 41 may also be provided with longitudinalgrooves 60 to reduce any pistonor retarding eil'ect oi' the collar 48,which, as stated, is perforated for the same purpose.

Ihe axis of the pivotal vmounting oi' door 88 on the tub is located in aplane normal to the drum .the locking projections 58 and the screw shaft54has been rotated to force the tub door ilrmly to its seat. In thisposition the drum door prevents escape of the work but neverthelessthedrum may be rotated freely pors are circulated'in the mannerdescribed, the gas or vapor current coming from conduit I8 enters thechamber 48 and passes directly through the openings inthe drum door tothe chamber within the drum,.and vso on, although obviously thedirection of iiow may be the re verse from the chamber in the drumtoconduit and' so on. For` unloading and reloading the washer, the handleand clear accessv to the drum chamber. During this motion, due to thellocation of the axis on which the doors swing, the inner door clears allstationary` parts of the tub and passes out through the opening for thetub door.

For the-purpose oi'l treating the fabrics or garments `with a mothpreventive or mothproofing substance, I provide a vessel 6I having a removablev cover 82, by removing which the moth preventive material in theform of powder, finely divided crystals or the like may be introducedinto receptacle 6I. By moth preventive or moth-prooing substances ismeant those substances which will either kill moths or 4drive them awayfrom fabrics, such as those which may be purchased commercially orvthose which are devalve 84 is open. odorizing operation, when fresh airis passed over the fabrics for scavenging therefrom the last traces ofdetergent, a quantity of the mothproong material iiows by gravity and bythe suction eilect of fan III from the vessel 8| into conduit I3 and isdistributed over and upon the fabrics being treate Fig. 3 illustrates aspecial form of connection from'conduit to tank l conduit and vessel lner surface of is provided said closures and through the points whereconduit 22v opening,

75 whereby air connects respectively to the bollen 20 and condenser 2land at the points where the water trap 25 communicates with condenser 24and reservoir 26. Such connections necessarily include -a gasket orgasket material in contact with the detergent. These detergents causerather rapid deterioration of the gasket material, requiring frequentremoval thereof. In the arrangement shown the joint between the isarranged as follows:-

Within the tank, Whose wall is indicated at 10, is located a plate 1ltapped to receive two studs iz and provided with an annular seat toreceive a gasket or washer 13 which lies against the inthe tank wall.With these parts in place, as described, a gasket or washer 14 isapplied to the outer surface of the tank and the joint is tightened byscrewing down nuts 15. The end of the conduit` such as the conduit 22,

with a flange 11 slotted at 18 for application to the studs12 over nuts15. The inner end or said conduit is applied to a washer 19 lying in anannular seat of the plate 1l, and the conduit, when inserted to theposition shown, is secured tightly to produce a sealed joint by screwingup nuts B0. With this arrangement, upon deterioration of any packedjoint or this kind, the parts may be disassembled and the washers andgaskets readily renewed from the outside of the vessel without the usualnecessity for full access to the chamber within the tank.

What I claim is:

1. A work treating device of the character described comprising astationary casing having an a drum rotatable therein having an openingsubstantially concentric with its axis oi rotation. a seat disposedaround the'opening in said duim. a closurefor the opening in said casingand a closure for the opening in said drum, said closures being mountedto` move as a unit between open and closed position, the closure forsaid drum being rotatable and yieldlngly mounted with respect to thecasing closure, whereby when the unit is closed the drum door will beforced into engagement with the drum seat and will rotate therewith.'

2. A work treating device of the character described, comprising astationary casing having an opening, a perforate drum rotatable thereinhaving an opening substantially concentric with its axis oi rotation, aclosure for the casing opening, a perorateclosure for the drum opening,said closures being spaced from each other, a conduit communicating withthe space between drum closure with the drum chamber, and a conduitconnected to the casing wall and communicating through the drumperforations with its chamber, whereby air may be caused to flow fromconduit to conduit by way o the drum chamber and thus into intimatecontact with the work in said drum:

3. Apparatus of the character described in claim 2 in which the closurefor said drum is yieldingly and rotatably/,mounted with respect to theclosure for said casing.

e. A work treating device of the character described comprising astationary casing, a perforate drum rotatable therein, a supply conduitleading into said casing and a discharge conduit leading therefrom andcommunicating with the supply conduit to form a closed circuit, wherebyair may be circulated from conduit to conduit and thereby through thework and periorate drum, valve controlled openings in said conduits fromthe atmosphere may be forced through the workin said drum and passed tothe atmosphere, a receptacle containing a mothprooilng substance,communicating means between said receptacle and the supply conduit,valve means for normally closing communication between the receptacleand the supplyconduit, and means controlled by the operation of said airvalves for opening communication between said receptacle and the supplyconduit when the supply conduit is open to atmosphere. whereby themoth-proofing substance may be drawn through the supply conduit when airfrom the atmosphere is forced through said drum.

5. A work treating device of the character described comprising astationary casing, a perforate drum rotatable therein, a closure forsaid drum and a closure for said casing, said closures being spaced fromeach other and the inner clesure being perforated, into the spacebetween the closures, a discharge conduit leading from the casing andcommunieating with the supply conduit to form a closed circuit for thecirculation of air from conduit to conduit, valve controlled openings insaid conduits wherebyI air may be forced-from the atmosphere through thework and passed to the atmosphere for deodorizing the fabric when saidvalves are open, a receptacle containing a moth-A proorlng substance,communicating means between said receptacle and the supply conduit,valve means for closing said communicating means, and means controlledby the operation of said air valves for opening communication betweensaid receptacle and the supply conduit when the supply conduit is opento the atmosphere, whereby when air from the atmosphere is drawn throughthe supply conduit moth-prooiing substance will be drawn from thereceptacle 'and forced through the perforations in the drum closure uponthe work in said drum.

6. A work treating device of the character described, including astationary casing, a cylindrical foraminous drum rotatable therein on ahorizontal axis, a closure unit therefor including casing and drum doormembers of circular form mounted to move together as a open and closedpositions and which in closed position are substantially concentric withthe drum axis, said two door members being spaced from. each other, aconduit connected to the space between said doors, and a conduitconnected to the casing wall, for circulation `of air from' conduit toconduit and thereby through the work and rotatable drum.

'1. Apparatus of the character described in claim 6, in `which the drumdoor is yieldingly mounted with .reference to the casing door, therebyto accommodate itseli to the opening in the drum.

8. Apparatus of the character described in claim 6, in which said doormembers are pivoted to the casing upon an axis which lies in a planesubstantially parallel to the door members and substantially midwaybetween them.

9. A work treating device of the character described comprising astationary casing having an opening. a drum rotatable therein having anopening substantially concentric with its axis of rotation. a closureseat surrounding said opening, a closure for the opening in said casingand a closure for the opening in said drum, the closure for said drumbeing rotatabiy and yieldingly mounted with respect to the casingclosure when the doors are closed so that the drum door will a supplyconduit leading unit between l Ch be forced into ensasem and will rotatetherewith.

10. A work .treating device described concentric with its ent with the san opening subl exis of rotation.

a seat surrounding lthe drum opening, a closure for said drum openingrotatably mounted with respect to said casing closure. and meansassociated with the casing door for yieldably forcing the closure forthe drum into engagement with 5 the seat.

RUSSELL A.

